The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran has concluded the sixth edition of the Ithra Short Plays Competition 2026, announcing the winners after an artistic and training journey that drew 123 directors, actors and theater enthusiasts from the Kingdom and several Arab countries.

The closing ceremony took place on the evening of 15 August 2026, after ten plays reached the final stage and were performed on stage. Five works went on to compete for seven awards before an engaged audience of theater and performing arts fans.

Seven Awards Celebrating Theater Talent

The sixth edition's awards covered the different elements of a theatrical production: best scenography, best actor, best actress, best script, best direction, the audience choice award and best play.

The range of awards reflects the competition's attention to every component of a stage production, from writing, directing and performance to visual and artistic elements and the audience experience.

Five Plays from Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain

The finals featured theatrical work from three Arab countries. Saudi Arabia was represented by "Atlantis", "Container" and "Law Number Seven", alongside "The Kite" from Jordan and "Moksha" from Bahrain.

The Arab entries widen the exchange of expertise among theater practitioners and give audiences a chance to see a variety of artistic approaches and styles.

Tribute to Dr. Mona Knio

As part of the sixth edition, Ithra announced Dr. Mona Knio as this year's honoree, in recognition of her contribution to preserving traditional performance techniques and her role in developing modern theater education in Lebanon and the region.

The tribute adds a knowledge dimension to the competition by celebrating figures who have shaped the theater movement and passed their expertise on to new generations.

A Journey That Began in April with a Six-Week Training Program

Registration opened in April 2026, after which participants moved through the application, selection, training and development stages before presenting their work to the public in the final phase.

Ithra provided participants with a six-week integrated training program combining coaching, mentoring and artistic development, aimed at elevating scripts and performances and sharpening participants' skills across the stages of theatrical production.

Abdullah Al Hawas, Head of Performing Arts at Ithra, said the edition attracted more directors, actors and theater enthusiasts, and stressed the competition's role in providing a professional space that helps talent develop its craft and present its work to a wider audience.